Prevention of Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Found @ The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory

Vol. 5, No. 2, Pg 44

June 2008

Prevention of Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia Pg. 44

Perioperative hypothermia may result in serious cardiac,

coagulation, and wound-healing complications,

especially among vulnerable pediatric and elderly

patients. More than 50 reports have been submitted

through PA-PSRS about patients experiencing

perioperative hypothermia. Many reports involved

hypothermia that was detected in the postanesthesia

care unit. Only a few reports indicated that measures

were in place to prevent hypothermia. Risk reduction

strategies to prevent perioperative hypothermia

include assessing the patient for increased risk of

hypothermia, monitoring temperature throughout the

perioperative period using optimal temperature monitoring

sites, and using active and/or passive warming

measures as appropriate. (Pa Patient Saf Advis 2008

Jun;5[2]:44-52.)